"It is with great sorrow that Chief Darren Dachisen announces the death of Captain Cirella. Our captain died after being diagnosed with cancer in September and leaves behind a wife and three young children," said the Madison Department in a released statement Tuesday evening.

"We will remember Joe as a great cop, a mentor, a devoted father, husband and above all, a friend." Born and raised in Irvington and the proud son of an Irvington fireman, Cirella was appointed to the Madison Police Department on Feb. 13, 1989 after working for the Morris County Sheriff’s Office.